The football team’s 2-9 record in 2005 might be worth a grimace, but the squad played four nationally-ranked teams in a rebuilding year showing major improvements toward the end of the season. Unfortunately for Husky fans, the 2006 schedule does not appear to be any easier.

The schedule, released last Wednesday shows the season is set to begin Sept. 2 against 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champions Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The Hokies posted a 11-2 overall record last season, which ended with a 35-24 win over the University of Louisville in the Gator Bowl. It is the first of five straight-away games the Husky squad will face next season.

“They’re one of the best programs in the country,” coach Rocky Hager said. “I would hope that we’re strong enough in our personality to be excited and calm enough not to be intimidated by the road games.”

Northeastern will then travel to Worcester on Sept. 9 to face Holy Cross, followed by a trip to Fargo, N.D. the week after to face North Dakota State, the school Hager led to Division I-AA national championships in 1988 and 1990 during his 10-year tenure as head coach of the Bison.

“I still have lots of friends and family there,” Hager said. “I probably have more family attending that game than those at Parsons.”

Also included in the schedule are away games against 2004 NCAA National Champion James Madison Division I-AA on Sept. 23, and 2005 Atlantic-10 Co-Champion Richmond on Sept. 30. Parsons will host its first 2006 game against Delaware on Oct. 7.

“The first five games might prevent some of our fans from attending,” Hager said. “But it doesn’t matter where you play, it’s the same field, NCAA rules provide that, and it’s the same officiating, NCAA rules provide that as well. Obviously we would prefer to play at home, but we’ll make the best out of this situation as we can.”

The Huskies will be gearing up for their last Atlantic-10 season and will face New Hampshire on Oct. 21, and former NU coach Don Brown Oct. 28. Northeastern will play its final road games against Maine (Nov. 4) and Hofstra (Nov. 11) before finishing the regular season at home on Nov. 8 against Rhode Island.

“It’s on a rotation basis and, no matter how you look at it, the Atlantic-10 is tough,” Hager said. “Our priority remains to improve each time we take the practice field and game field.”